The move means that the teaching, non-teaching staff, and students will be prohibited from indulging in actions that can disrupt and affect regular activities on the campus
New Delhi: The ministry of human resource development has said that Delhi University will now come under the ambit of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
The move means that the teaching, non-teaching staff, and students will be prohibited from indulging in actions that can disrupt and affect regular activities on the campus. Anyone can be arrested without any warrant by the state police if they violate the clause (VIII) if the ESMA Act.
The ministry has also set up a working group committee to study the Delhi University Act, 1922.
Sources said the step has been taken as the university saw evaluation boycott twice since the BJP came to power. In 2016, Delhi University Teachers Association had boycotted the evaluation process for 55 days. This year, the teachers again boycotted the evaluation process for 41 days in protest of the schemes of the government such as autonomy, change in roster policy, and others.
HRD ministry sources said the new panel, which has a chairman from UGC and six other members — from BHU, DU, Bhopal Law university, TISS Mumbai, VC of Tezpur University and Former Registrar of BHU — will take crucial calls regarding teaching, learning, examination, and evaluation will be taken. The committee will submit its report with 30 days, that is, by November 3.
The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has branded the step as a “vicious attack on the academic community's intellectual autonomy”, free thinking and democratic values.
Reacting to the development, teachers affiliated to the union said it was a threat to the higher education and a "lethal tool". Aditya Narayan Misra, former president of DUTA, said the new committee will completely change the Delhi University Act.
(with agency inputs)
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